Egbert howard syms



(No Model.) a sheets-sheet 1.

R. H. SYM8. APPARATUS FOR INKING AND WIPING DIES IN PRINTING PRESSES.

No. 567,797 Patented Sept. 15, 1896.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

R. H. SYMS. APPARATUS FOR INKING AND WIPING DIES IN PRINTING PRESSEIS., No. 567,797.

Patented Sept. 15, 1896.

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(No Model.) 3 Sheet-8heet 3.

H. SYMS. A APPARATUS FORINKING AND WIPING DIES IN PRINTING PRESSES. No. 567,797. Patented Sept. 15, 1896 WITNESSES: INVENTOR QMW ATTORNEY.

Trice.

ATENT ROBERT HOWARD srns, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

APPARATUS For INKING AND WIPING DIES IN PRINTING-PRESSEQS.

. $PEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 567,797, dated September 15, 1896,

Application filed December 6, 189i. Serial No. 531,066. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT HowARD SYMs, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for Inking and Wiping Dies in Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of inking and wiping the plates, dies, or type in printing or stamping presses and to the apparatus for applying this method; and although my invention relates more especially to the art of color-embossing and color-embossing presses operated by hand, yet I do not limit myself to that art or to any particular style of press, but include all kinds in which the ink is applied to the printing-face of the die or other printing portion. Hereinking dies preparatory to making the printing impression has been cumbersome, slow, wasteful, and laborious. The die has been removed from the press, inked by hand with a brush or other means, the excess of ink removed by wiping the die by hand either with paper or some other substance or the bare ;hand, the die then replaced in the press, and ,the final impression made. The method is ,go imperfect and objectionable because of, first,

additional labor required; second, the time enpended in removing the die, applying the ink, wiping off the excess of the same, and replacing the die, all of which requires g5.many1separate motions; third, the imper- ,fection in the results attained, as the manual inking and Wipingare irregular, and the re- ,sultsiare frequently dissimilar in successive operations. lSometimesthe ink is applied too copiously and atpth'ers insufficiently, and the same irregularityie cists in the wiping, the face of the die being at one time satisfactorily cleaned and at another, perhaps, most imperfectly so. Thus frequently results the loss or imperfection of the work performed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to accomplish the inking and wiping of the die without removing the same from the press; second, to perform this function with accuracy and regularity; third, to attain the greatest possible saving of time and material tofore in this class of presses the process of A rendered operative.

in so doing; fourth, to provide certain de-. vices and apparatus which may be readily applied to and with slight alteration of existing printing presses. To this end my method consists in performing these opera tions mechanically in two separate motionsfirst, applying the ink to the die while in the press by passing the inking device across the the die-face; second, in wiping off the excess by a return motion of the wiping substance. I employ this method and also attain these objects through the medium of an improved apparatus which I now describe and make the subject of separate and distinct claims, having illustrated it in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica tion, and in which similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the various views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an em.- bossing-press and the attachment, showing the method of inking and wiping the die and one idea of means by which the method is Fig. 2 is .a plan of the device, showing the component parts as.- sembled. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line X Y. Fig. 4 is a longi: tudinal elevation of they device. Fig, 5 is an end elevation of the track and end of car, Fig. 6 is a plan view of a portion of the sec.- tional track, showing one of the sections removed. Figs. 7 and 8 are enlarged views of a detail of the ink-roller-operating mechanism and track. Fig. 9 is a detail of a portion of the carriage, showing more particularly the pad which supports the wiping material as it comes in contact with the die.

Referring to Fig. 1, A is the ordinary handpress used for colonembossing. including the die 13 and the table C, in which the counter is sunk. In this table C is the grooved track D, and on this table C and in this track D runs and is guided the carriage or movable inker and wiper by means of which I apply my method, and all which auxiliary apparatus I hereinafter specifically describe and claim. In Figs. 1, 2, and i D is the grooved track in the surface of the table 0 of the press. E is the frame of the carriage, bearing the means for inking and wiping the die. The carriage is supported and moves in the track and on the table by means of the wheels h h, the wheels h traversing the surface of the table, while the wheels 71 run in the guide-groove D of the track and are of course of larger diameter. F is a handle by means of which the whole carriage is given longitudinal motion on the track and under the die. H is a plate on which is a pad of soft material H to support the paper G at the proper height and level under the die B in the operation hereinafter to be described. At either end of this plate are the rollers u u, serving as guides or pulleys for the paper. 1) is a brush, the use of which will be hereinafter shown. 7c is another guide-roller or pulley serving to lead the paper under the inktray (1, in which tray revolves the ink-roller Z), the lip a" of the tray serving to scrape off any excess of ink from said roller. 7c k k are similar guide-rollers. The ink-roller b is revolved by the wheel f on its axis, which bears upon the sectional track 9 i, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 6. S is areel holding the paper, whose axis rests in slots 7' of the casing 'u is a brush adjusted so as to remove from the intaglio of the die any excess of ink therein. i is a roller revolved by means of a belt communicating motion from the pulley S to the pulley 2, Fig. 2, the wheel S being of the same diameter and attached to the axis of the reel S. i is a friction or guide roller whose surface touches i sufficiently to evolve enough friction on the paper G, pass ing between t and 25 as to assist in the feed. W is a device for gripping and feeding the paper, operating by means of the trippingleverz q z. p is the bearing in which the lever q is pivoted and which is attached to the bed of the press. a is a sliding clamp, adjustable by means of the set-screw m and bearing the stop or spur Z, which clamp slides upon the shoulder n on the car. The gripping device \V consists of a sliding elbowjoint frame having its edges adapted to grip the paper. This device slides in the grooves w and is fitted with a spur or pin 0. The end 2 of the tripping-lever q is wedge-shaped to enable it to engage with the spur Z at the proper time, and the other end, 2', is bent to form a hook to engage the spur or pin 0 at the required time. The ink-pan a may be fitted with a cover (not shown in the drawings) to prevent any possible spattering of the ink from the roller 1).

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, f is the milled wheel, turningloosely on the axis Z) of the inkroller 19, which bears upon the sectional track g t'. A ratchet-wheelf and pawlf (not here shown to avoid complicating the drawings) are shown specificallyin Figs. 7 and 8. Their function is to transmit motion of the wheel f to the roller b. In Fig. 6 the track is shown composed of sections g, being fixed and of such length as to engage the wheel for the length of time required to complete the oper ation of inking the smallest size die likely to be used. j is a rod of suitable length serving as a pivot for the movable sections t',whieh may be thrown in or out of position to engage the wheel f, thus enabling the operator to adjust the rotation of the ink-roller for the size of die to be used. The track 9 is so located that when the sections are in place to operate the inking device they will come in contact with and operate the wheel just as the roller rotated by the latter passes in contact with the die. The track will therefore be substantially opposite the die itself.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8, i i are the sections of track, and j the pivot already referred to in Figs. 5 and 6. D is the groove in which the wheels h h run; E, the frame of the car; I), the ink-roller; a, the ink-pan, and a the scraper, which removes the excess of ink from the roller as it revolves under and inks the die. The wheel f turns loosely upon the axis 1) of the ink roller. f is a ratchet -wheel fixed immovably upon the axis 1) of the inkroller and operated by the wheel f when revolving in the direction of the arrow 2 2 by means of the pawl f.

Referring to Fig. 9, H shows the pad, of suitable material, which surrounds the bed H and serves to keep the wiping material G at the proper height to wipe the die. I do not claim this pad as a new feature, as I am aware that pads have been heretofore used for the pur pose of forming a yielding and proper back for wiping material in certain classes of plateprinting machines.

The operation of the device is as follows: Referring to Fig. 1, when the die B is in position ready for inking and wiping, the operator, by means of thehandle F, draws the carriage with a single motion over the track C and under the die in the direction of the arrow 1 the ink-roller b can turn only in the direction of the arrow 2 2, Fig. 8, as will be explained, and so the excess of ink is continually removed from it by the under edge of the scraper a, which may be anintegral part of the ink-pan a. Referringfora moment to Fig. 8, when the motion is in the directionof the arrow 1 1 the wheel f carries with it in its revolution the pawl f, which slips over the teeth of the ratchet-wheel f without turning it and consequently without turning the roller b. hen the carriage is moved in the direction of the arrow 2 2, the wheel f, by means of the pawl f, transmits its revolution to the ratchet-wheel f and by it to the roller 1), thus taking up new ink for the die as long as the wheel f continues its motion in the same direction over the sectional track 7: 2. And now, again referring to Fig. 1, when the inking-roller has passed under andinked the surface of the die the motion is reversed, as shown by the arrow 2, when brush 1; wipes out the excess of ink from the intaglio of the die and the wiping-paper over the plate H, Fig. 3, supported by the pad H, (see Fig. 9,) is drawn in contact with the surface of the die, wiping off the ink from all portions save in the intaglio. At each successive operation the paper is drawn along over the plate H and its pad by means of the device IV, &c., so as to present fresh portions of paper for each successive wipingof the die, the paper being unwound from reel S (see Fig. 3) at the point S passing under the guide-roller 70 thence along under the carriage over the guide-roller a, supported from sagging by the clamp 12, which passes under and across the carriage, thence over the plate H and its pad, over the guide-roller u, thence under the guide-rollers 70 76 at either end of the ink-pan, thence over the guide-roller is through the jaws of the gripping device W, and thence around the guide-roller k and over the reel S between the rollers t and 15 where it may be cut off on the edge r Fig. 3, or otherwise disposed of.

It will be seen that there are three methods of feeding or moving the paper-first, by the gripping motion about to be described more minutely; second, by the revolution of the reel S, which tends to communicate its motion to the paper as it passes over its surface at S, Fig. 3; third, the revolution of the roller 15 by means of the pulley 1,, taking its motion from the wheel S by means of a band. These different feeds keep the paper tight and prevent or minimize the danger of tearing by distributing its strain.

The operation of the device W is as follows: When the carriage is at rest normally at one side of the press, as indicated in Fig. 1, the pin 0, Figs. 1 and 4, will be engaged by the hook z of the lever g, &c. and as the carriage is moved in the direction of the arrow 1, the jaws to and w being constructed as an elbow-joint, bite the paper and thus prevent it from moving actually, but relatively draw it over the guide-rollers above mentioned and over the plate H and its pad, effecting the required presentation of a clean portion at I, Figs. 1 and 2. The gripping device of course remains itself actually at rest, being held by the hook 2', but relatively it slides along the grooves 10 until it is released by the tripping of the lever g, which is effected when the spur Zimpinges on the wedge-shaped end 2, de-

pressing it and thus raising the hook 2 at the other end of the lever q. From this point the device W moves with the car during its remaining motion in the direction of the arrow 1, and returns with the car in the direction of the arrow 2 until the spur o reengages with the hook .2, which by its resistance first opens the jaws 10, thus freeing the paper, then carries IV to its first position at the end of the grooves in, which point is reached at the end of the motion of the car.

I wish to be understood as not limiting myself to a carriage moving on wheels, ora carriage moving in a grooved track. Although I prefer such a construction, my improvement would be embodied in constructing the carriage to slide in a groove or on a raised track, or between raised tracks, or any equivalent I means of guiding and preserving the alinement of the same in its reciprocations in relation to the printing-surface. Nor do I wish to limit myself to the exact form or construction of the different parts shown, especially of the means for feeding the wiping material. A friction-roller operated by means similar to those operating the inking device might be employed; but

What I claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. I11 a printing-press the combination of a reciprocating carriage, means on said carriage for inking the printingsurface, means on said carriage for wiping the printing-surface, and means on said carriage for feeding the wiping material, said means being adapted to be operated by the reciprocation of the carriage.

2. In a printing-press the combination of a printing-surface constantly in alinement for making an impression, a reciprocating carriage bearing an inking device, a wipingband, and a feeding device for presenting new portions of said band to the printing-surface; the whole adapted to be operated by the reciprocation of said carriage.

3. In a printing-press the combination of a die, stationary as regards the motion of the inking and wiping devices, with a reciprocating carriage bearing an inking-roller and fountain, a band of wiping material, an elastic pad supporting the wiping material, means for feeding said wiping material and a receptacle for holding said wiping material, the whole adapted to be operated by the reciprocation of the carriage.

4. In a printing-press the combination of a printing-surface, movable only in a direction perpendicular to its impression-piece, a carriage reciprocating transversely thereto, and bearing an inking-roller,fo untain and scraper; a wiping-band, means for feeding fresh wipin g material, and a receptacle for said wiping material; the whole being operated by the reciprocations of the carriage.

5. In a printing-press the combination of a relatively stationary die, a reciprocating carriage moving transversely thereto; means on said carriage for inking the die, means on said carriage for holding and feeding the wiping material, means for adjusting the operation of the inking device, according to the size of the printing-surface, and means for adjusting the amount of feed of the wiping material; substantially as described.

6. In a printing-press the combination of a die, with a carriage bearing an inking-roller with its fountain and scraper, a brush for re moving the excessive ink from the intaglio of the die, a band of wiping material with its receptacle; a device for gripping said wiping material, a stop and tripping-lever for catching and releasing said gripping device, and a sectional track for adjusting the operation of the inking-rollerg substantially as described.

7. The combination in a printing-press of a reciprocating carriage; means on said carriage for inking the die; means on said carriage for 4 sen-79v removing a portion of the ink from-the intaglio of the die; means on said carriage for cleaning the plane surface of the die; means operated by the movement of said carriage for automatically presenting fresh cleaning material to the face of the die, substantially as described.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 21st day of November, A. D. 1894.

ROBERT HOXVARD SYMS.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. LOVELAND, lVILLIAM M. STIEFERT. 

